"I know that 99 per cent of people in the town are smashing, but things like this give Grimsby a bad name."

These were the words of the father of a Grimsby chef, who is today recovering in hospital after being stabbed three times in a seemingly unprovoked attack.

As reported on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk yesterday, William Leeman, 26, of First Avenue, was knifed in the back on Victoria Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

He is currently receiving specialist care at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham after the attack, which occurred at around 12.40am, close to the junction with New Street.

Today his father John, said William – the head chef at St Margaret's Nursing Home – is expected to be home by the end of the week, and the police have issued another appeal for witnesses.

Mr Leeman, 57, who owns John Leeman's Removals, said: "He was having a short night out with his brother, who rang us after it had happened.

"You think the worst when you hear the word stabbing. We thought he was going to die."

Witnesses reported seeing a man running away from the scene with a knife still in his hand.

Police are today continuing to quiz a 30-year-old man in connection with the incident.

A statement issued this afternoon praised the actions of Gullivers door staff and two off-duty nurses who helped. They appealed for the nurses and any other witnesses to come forward.

Contact Humberside Police on 0845 6060222, quoting log 18 of November 18, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

For more from Mr Leeman's family, see today's Grimsby Telegraph.